November 30, 2012 Las Vegas, NV
Hall of Fame inductee Ralf Souquet has committed to play in the inaugural season of the WPBL, adding to the impressive roster of players that already includes two Hall of Fame members, Johnny Archer and Earl Strickland. Souquet now joins countrymen Thorsten Hohmann and Jesse Engel on the newly formed Minnesota Outlaws.
The last minute withdrawal of Boston native Mike Dechaine left the Boston Young Guns team in need of a captain. Teammate and World Champion Thorsten Hohmann was quick to accept the added responsibility, delighted by the addition of Souquet, his 2011 World Cup of Pool winning partner. “We work well playing as a team and are friends both on and off the table. He is my hero, my favorite player, and I’ve always looked up to him.” Larry Chiborak, president of the WPBL, is elated with the addition of Ralf Souquet saying “He is a well-respected player and a gentleman. It is an honor to have him in the league.”
As the newest member of the WPBL, Souquet said “I am ready to learn and experience the game of Bonus Ball and look forward to playing for the Minnesota Outlaws. I’ve always been interested in getting to know a new pool game like Bonus Ball. I am very happy to team up with my friend and World Cup of Pool partner Thorsten Hohmann as well as Jesse Engel, one of the new generation players and upcoming stars in the United States.”
With the addition of Souquet, the WPBL chose to relocate the Boston Young Guns to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, renaming the team the Minnesota Outlaws. With Engel being raised in the area and all three teammates being German, Minnesota’s prominent German population made it the ideal location to launch the new franchise.
